PRISON, WAR ON DRUGS BOTH EFFECTIVE

Contrary to Cynthia Tucker's recent column ("Just filling prisons
won't make us safer," @issue, June 29), evidence proves that
imprisoning criminals works. Crime is down since we decided that
criminals shouldn't be on the street but in prison. We still release
too many repeat offenders who perpetrate many crimes regardless of
previous imprisonment. Treatment works for only a very limited and
motivated minority.

Tucker complains about the number of black men in prison. If we want
to reduce that number, we should reverse liberal social policies
installed since the 1960s and strengthen all traditional families, not
just the black family. The black family was stronger in the 1950s than
it is today.

Tucker says that the war on drugs has failed. It has been a
demonstrable success. Drug use is down across all segments of American
society. What would Tucker have? More drug use? More crime? More
zoned-out teens and adults? More ruined lives?

Edward A. Watkins